Dartmouth event celebrates Black beauty on Viola Desmond’s birthday
The birthday of civil rights icon Viola Desmond was celebrated in Dartmouth with a special event that highlighted her contributions to the Black business community in Nova Scotia. The event, titled Being Black and Beautiful in Downtown Dartmouth, was organized by the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission in collaboration with the Black Beauty Culture Association. Approximately 200 people gathered to commemorate what would have been Desmond’s 111th birthday.
Viola Desmond gained national recognition for her courageous act of defiance against racial segregation in 1946 when she was arrested for refusing to leave a whites-only area at a New Glasgow movie theatre. Despite her activism, Desmond was also a trained beautician who founded her own hair cosmetics company to address the lack of hair and skincare products for Black women. Her business trip to New Glasgow was in connection to her successful hair cosmetics company, showcasing her entrepreneurship in addition to her activism.
Samantha Dixon Slawter, co-founder of the Black Beauty Culture Association, emphasized the importance of recognizing Desmond’s legacy as a businesswoman alongside her activism. Through the association, Slawter aims to honor an often overlooked aspect of Desmond’s life and impact on the Black community.
Mary Lukindo, an apprentice under the Black Beauty Culture Hair Innovator program, expressed how learning about Desmond’s work as a beautician made her more relatable and inspirational. Lukindo highlighted Desmond as a representation of the multifaceted and talented nature of Black individuals.
The event also featured musical performances by artists Ced, Marty, and Dave, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, emphasized the importance of working with the Black community to encourage more Black entrepreneurs to establish businesses in downtown Dartmouth.
After her arrest in 1946, Viola Desmond was unjustly jailed for 12 hours and fined for tax evasion before receiving a posthumous apology and pardon from the province in 2010. Her legacy was further recognized with an induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2017 and the issuance of a $10 bill featuring her likeness in 2018.
The event served as a tribute to Viola Desmond’s enduring legacy as both an activist and a pioneering businesswoman. It highlighted the significance of celebrating Black excellence and entrepreneurship while honoring the contributions of individuals like Desmond to the Black community in Nova Scotia.
